Musical ambition

[morethanpotatoprints]

Just had to laugh, watching Proms NYJO and my dd has just announced she is joining soon.

Posting here as although she is G&T at music this is pushing it a bit. Maybe 10 years.

I find it strange how some dc are so directed and self motivating. Does anybody think this is part of being talented or just personality. I often wonder.

Probably both.
How old is she?

chocoluvva.

Ha, she is 8. She has met quite alot of the orchestra though and has musical talent.

Well, determination and ambition AND talent seem like a pretty good combo to me.
The only caution I would advise, is that ability at such a tender age is a good but not completely reliable predictor of success in later years. Occassionally gifted children are caught up by other children in later years as they are gifted-for -their-age IYSWIM.
My DD is musically gifted too and it's been such a joy. Hope you have many happy years of enjoying your DD's music-making :)

I'm not sure how many do catch up. Yes they could all be the same grade but if a grade 8+ ten year old gets into the NCO, NYO etc and the student who gets grade 8 at 18 and goes to conservatoire hasn't been in such ensembles then I think it would be easier for the former to get on as they have a better CV. But music is so broad. My son wants to be an orchestral musician, nothing more, nothing less, but to be a solo violinist requires talent, youth, quirkiness and, if female, beauty!

Intellectual and fine-motor ability will affect how quickly a child can master instrumental technique. So, if a child has good cognitive abilities they will progress more quickly than someone with a very good ear, wonderful sense of imagination and expressive nature who isn't quick at learning how to keep their bow going straight or balancing the heel etc. However, I can think of a few children (not many though) who seemed to be amazing when they were little, but are now no better than their peers.

Colleger,

I think it depends on the person in question rather than their background. I know more musicians who never touched an instrument as a child than I do those that passed exams and went to music school.
My dd recently entered a competition and there was a six year old who had just gained a distinction on her instrument at grade 5. Amazing, to reach this level so young and many of the dcs thought it was a foregone conclusion this child would win. But listening, it was a lot of notes, with no expression and consequentley child didn't win. How could one so young perform and show expression. I wonder where this child has to go in the immediate future, obviously grade 5 theory to progress would be too demanding. So maybe so good on paper isn't so good, too young.

choccoluvva

Thank you for your lovely post. What does your daughter play, not another violinist by any chance. Mine plays violin, sings, saxophone, and piano. All at different levels, and then some things are better on the poorer and worse on the better iyswim.

She's 15. Piano first and violin very much second. She goes to a specialist music school but nothing like as hot-housed as Chethams - her school is one of three 'centres of excellence' in scotland.
She absolutely loves it- ensembles, accompanying, choir, aural, composition (not a great fan of music history though or harmony). She's not comfortable doing solo performances, though she likes to do competitions!
She and I have learnt not to place very much emphasis on adjudicators comments though.
She loves to go to recitals and concerts too. This is all absolutely lovely except for the time it takes away from academic work (which has probably suffered a bit - although who knows what she'd be like if she hadn't gone to a music school). She has an alarmingly good social life!

Chocoluvva,

I'm interested in finding out about the Scottish schools, can you give me the names please? Thanks!

There are three state-funded schools (though I'm not sure what the situation for children not living in scotland):
The Music School of Douglas Academy - situated in a leafy suburb of Glasgow- Douglas Academy is one of the best schools in Scotland re exam results and fab music tutors as BBCSSO, RSNO, Scottish Opera and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland are in Glasgow)
The Music School of Aberdeen - which is part of Dyce Academy
The Music School of Edinburgh- part of Broughton Academy
One private music school in Edinburgh, St Mary's - very highly regarded. It offers more hours of instrumental tuition than the other schools. Possibly similiar to an English Cathedral School.

Thanks for this. I don't know what our longterm plans are for DS as we've decided to HE but this is interesting. Do you know if ther Scottish Opera has a section for children?

And do you know if these are free schools?

If she really wants to be a classical musician you'd be right to be looking at the specialist music schools and the junior departments of the music colleges. Professional classical musicians nearly always take it very seriously from early teens at least, doing a few hours of practice a day plus lots of chamber music and youth orchestras (if applicable). Pm me if you want more info...

Yes, Scottish Opera has more than one youth project (I think). One is called, 'Connect'.
The Music Schools of Douglas Academy, Edinburgh and Aberdeen are free.
Some of DD's friends go to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Junior School on Saturdays.
Then there are some local education authority residential orchestral music-making courses.
And the National Children's Orchestra of Scotland, National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, National Choir of Scotland (SATB), National Boys Choir, National Girls Choir.
Some of the professional orchestras offer free concert tickets to accompanied children.

I'm going to call the schools tomorrow. I've been thinking about buying a property in Scotland and my sister lives in Aberdeen. DS was at Purcell but he left this summer.

Oooh, I love Aberdeen!
But Glasgow has a lot to offer and Edinburgh is just such a fantastic city IMO.
I don't know about Purcell, but I do know that the scottish state music schools are considered to be much less 'pressured' than Chethams. Also, much smaller.
Good luck :)

colleger -any particular reason for leaving Purcell?
We went to a North London Piano School/Competition (held in Purcell) winners concert last weekend in Royal Festival Hall. It was very dissapointing.. ...

North London Piano School has nothing to do with Purcell, it is a private company and the pupils are not at Purcell.

I know colleger, its is just the closest I ever got to it. I keep thinking about music schools as well from time to time so would be interesting to know what your DC thinks about it.

Going back to OP, I am sure talent and certain personality quite often come together.
My DS quite often comments on how "awesome" he is when he played something well. But we insist on making sure he doesn't take himself too seriously :).

Is your son at a JD Pianomama? I'll pm you at some point about Purcell - its a long story...

Thanks, he is. I remember your post about JDs being full of Purcells pupils

Wow!
A few of DD's music school friends also go to the scottish JD. Is this not too much?